Three Minute Motivators

To give the teacher a positive break (allow time to set up next activity)

To refocus flagging attentions

To wake up lethargic minds

To introduce a new concept/lesson

To reward positive behaviour

To engage or re-engage learning.

Powerful Music

Use music to set the tone, increase engagement and time the activity – most songs are three minutes long!

15 x Three Minute Motivators.

Brain Tennis

In pairs play Brain Tennis – start them off with a keyword (about the topic) in turn they each have to come up with a connecting word relating to the previous word. Any repetition, deviation or hesitation and you’re out!!

Just a Minute

In pairs or small groups ask one person to talk about the chosen topic for one whole minute, the other members of the group/pair have to pick up on repetition, deviation or hesitation. If they make a successful challenge they take over.

Up in a lift

The lift takes 3 minutes to reach the top floor, in groups of three discuss the topic. The first person talks about what we have learnt, the second talks about how we have leant it and the third talks about how we could use it in real life.

Autographs

Get as many signatures as you can. Each person writes one question on a sheet of paper relating to the topic, and then have two minutes to move around the room asking the question; if classmates get the correct answer they can sign the sheet.

Intriguing image

Put up an intriguing image on the IWB and ask the students to write about the image – what is it? how does it make them feel? what does it show? – remember there are no wrong answers.

Question Wall

Display a question wall in your room (sometimes known as a Stuck Wall). Ask the students to write one unanswered question that they have onto the wall. Questions can be answered at a later date during starter as extension work.

Model it

Using Play-do or Lego ask the students to create a model about what they have learnt so far.

Twenty Questions

In pairs or small groups, one person is an “animal, mineral, vegetable” relating to the topic. Students ask questions to guess the identity – the answers can only be yes or no.

The Axis of Learning

Affix a large cross on the floor with masking tape as below. Students position themselves according to the level of interest. Really good for posing differentiated questions and reviewing learning.

Quick the Heads coming!

In groups you have three minutes to discuss what you are going to say to the head teacher when he asks “what have you learnt today?” Quick, he’s just around the corner!

Scattergories

Using the grid below you have three minutes to fill it in – writing an answer beginning with the letter given, can you write something that no one else has come up with? The categories can be related to the topic.

Category

B

C

F

Food

TV Programme

Actor

12. Listening Pictures

In pairs, one person quickly draws a picture (or if you have time hand out a set of prepared images) they then, whilst keeping the picture hidden, have to describe the picture for their partner to draw. The describer can only communicate ideas in shapes, lines etc and not it is a house with a rectangular door etc.

Card Sort – a proper one!

In small groups you have three minutes to organise a shuffled pack of cards into ordered suits. Sound simple, but is it? Brilliant for reviewing and analysing teamwork. To make it even harder, remove one card from each pack and ask them to tell you the missing card.

Evacuation!!

The school needs to be evacuated in three minutes – you have no idea why, but you will need to survive overnight in a local derelict building. What 10 things are you going to take with you and why?

Send a Learning txt

You have three minutes to text your friend in the class. What have you learnt? How have you learnt it? What do you want to learn more about? Students do not have to send the text (though they can if they wish) they can simply write it. Use a Mobile phone writing frame if students do not have phones.

Can you think of any more……….if so, please let me know and we’ll add them to the growing list!!